Button for keys for musical instruments.



Patnted Nov. 2|, I899.

0. W. SNEDEKER.

BUTTON FOR KEYS FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

(Application filed Feb. 4, 1899.)

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ORLANDO "W. SNEDEKER, OF OIIIOAGO, ILLINOIS.

BUTTON FOR KEYS FOR MUSICAL HNSTRUMENTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 637,756, dated November 21, 1899. Application filed February 4, 1899. Serial No. 704,481. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that LORLANDO W. SNEDEKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ohicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Buttons forKeys forMu sical Instruments, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in the manufacture of buttons or heads for the keys of musical instruments, such as are used on violins, guitars, mandolins, and banjos; and it consists in certain peculiarities of the construction, novel arrangement, and opera tion of the parts thereof, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth and specifically claimed.

The object of my invention is to provide buttons of the above-named character which shall be simple and inexpensive in construction, strong, durable, and attractive in ap pearance, and which by reason of their peculiar construction will be more durable and less liable to become detached from the keys than the buttons heretofore in general use.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to which my invention pertains to make and use the same, I will now proceed to describe it, referring to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a key with a button embodying my invention secured in position thereon. Fig. 2 is an enlarged view, partly in section and partly in elevation, of a button and a part of the key, showing the manner of securing the latter in position. Fig. 3 is a sectional "view taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the telescopic pieces which constitute the button-casing, showing them detached. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the button in its completed form, showing it ready to receive the key. Fig. 6 is a detached perspective view of the lock or socket piece for the key, and Fig. 7 is a plan view of the blank or pattern from which the lock or socket piece for the key is formed.

Similar letters refer to like parts throughout the different views of the drawings.

The button A is composed of two cup-like pieces B and B, which telescope with one an other and are preferably made of steel, but may be made of any other suitablematerial. The piece B is of a size and form to fit snugly Within the cavity of the piece B, the edges 1) of the walls of which are slightly inturned, as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, to overlap the outer surface of the piece B at its periphery, so as to firmly secure the pieces together. These pieces are oval in outline and have their middle portions somewhat deeper than their end portions to form a button substantially of the shape as is generally employed for the keys of musical instruments. Located within the cavity of the piece B is a looking or socket piece D for the reception and retention of the end of the key O, which extends into the button. The outer portion of the key C may be provided with a wormgear 0 to engage a suitable gear on the instrument.

The looking or socket piece D is stamped out of a blank piece of metal or other suitable material so as to form a cross with a central opening cl, as shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings. The extensions d are then bent at about right angles to the extensions or arms d as shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings. When placed within the casing of the button, which comprises the two pieces B and B, the projections d will intersect the button or casing longitudinally at about its middle and the projections d will rest against the inner surface of the wall of the inner piece. The opening (1 in the socket or looking piece D is rectangular, as shown, or of other shape than circular to receive the correspondinglyshaped end of the key to prevent it turning. The walls of the pieces B and B are formed at a point opposite the opening in the piece D with an opening I) to receive the key, which is passed therethrough and is driven or forced into the opening (I and between the projections d, which may clamp the same.

By reference to Figs. 3 and 6 of the drawings it will be seen that the extensions 61 are slightly curved to correspond with the con cavity of the cup-pieces B and B forming the casing of the button, which construction will allow the said pieces to rest thereon throughout the length of the said projections. After the pieces 13 and B are secured together they havingprojections to intersect the cup-pieces may be burnished and enameled or coated With porcelain or other suitable material.

Having thus fully described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1's

As an improved article of manufacture, a button for the keys of musical instruments comprising two cup-shaped pieces adapted to telescope with one another and having an opening in their Walls and a l0cking-piece at about their middle and provided with a central opening, and extensions or projec tions at substantially right angles to the firstnamed projections, said piece being located Within the cup-shaped pieces, substantially -as described.

ORLANDO W. SNEDEKER. Witnesses:

CHAS. O. TILLMAN, E. A. DUGGAN. 

